Bike Review:
Evil Epocalypse
Exactly what a full power ebike should be.
The Epocalypse is rocking up to 85 nm out of that Shimano EP8 motor with three levels of assistance that are easily modifiable with the Shimano etube mobile app. It’s packing 650whs in the downtube, that’s easily swapable if you have a spare battery at home. However, I would not recommend carrying a backup, it’s heavy! Aesthetically, this is a great looking bike but it’s not going to be mistaken for anything other than an ebike.
Geometry and Climbing:
I was a bit concerned with the climbing position specifically that rather slack 74.8 or 75.6 seattube angle. That was quickly alleviated when I hit the a few steep climbs. I would probably attribute that to the weight of the battery keeping the front end planted. Otherwise, the reach is in my personal sweet spot at 468 or 475 and the stack is nice and high at 647 or 651. Evil’s Delta suspension never fails for efficiency and traction, so as you’d expect the Epocalypse made quite work of the climbs.
Descending:
Full power ebikes tend to ride a certain way. The Epocalypse is not entirely different it wants to gain speed when things are steep and holds a line tremendously well. That said, moving the bike around the trail can be a bit arduous. However with the Evil’s short rear end, it wasn’t as immovable as some full power ebikes I’ve ridden. The Delta suspension also shined on the wet rocks and roots. I took the Epocalypse on what is often referred to as the “hardest” sanctioned trail in Bellingham and while conditions were all time Pacific Northwest that means greasy! The more I rode it, the more the Epocalypse differentiated its self and out handled those other ebikes.
Who’s this bike for?:
Well anyone looking for a long travel full power ebike will not be disappointed. The evolution of ebike motors has been huge and Shimano is definitely up there. I would also contend that if you’re in the market for a full power ebike and not looking for this much travel, you’re blowing it. If you’re going to lug around this much weight why not have this much capability. Thanks to the motor, things feel light on flatter trails. You also have a very Moto body position, so feel free to get foot out flat out in every turn. If you want an ebike that’s complete from the factory floor the Epocalypse has you covered.
Final Thoughts:
Evil’s Delta suspension is a great complement to an ebike. Having the Motor and Battery as well as the suspension positioned so low keeps things from feeling as cumbersome as some ebikes. At speed, this bike remains playful, at least for an ebike. Again I am stoked to see evil specing quality suspension on all there bikes and the weight of an ebike needs it. The fork performance out of my friend’s ebike is unfortunate and a very pricy upgrade. This bike really makes you think what your dream bike garage looks like. Full power or lightweight, dj or dh bike. These are all questions you’ll have to ask yourself.
The Evil Epocalypse is exactly what a full power ebike should be, if you’re looking to shuttle yourself or just for more laps. Go get it!
